Few things shout out the coming of summer quite like the arrival of watermelon at your local supermarket. Refreshing and delicious, it’s the perfect fruit to eat by the pool and why not try experimenting with in your cocktails. Cool down this summer by the pool with Freixenet’s Sweet Sparkling Watermelon, featuring Freixenet Sweet Cuvée Cava. 1 watermelon 1 bottle of Freixenet Sweet Cuvée Cava Cut 1/4th off the top off a seedless watermelon. Scoop out the fruit and purée. Put 2 tbsp in a wine glass, and top off with Freixenet Sweet Cuvée Cava. Pour the remaining purée back in the hollow watermelon to enjoy throughout the day. Freixenet Sparkling Wine Watermelon Cocktail Text recipe and images courtesy Freixenet.

If you love sparkling wine from the Catalonia region of Spain, you are in luck. Freixenet has given us a sneak preview of their newest Summer cocktail recipes. Not just for holidays, Cava is a refreshing way to make any occasion special. […]

An image of this drink was tweeted out just the other day by the Heathman Hotel Portland, and it caught my eye. So I asked via twitter if they would provide me the recipe for their Negroni, and being the Heathman Portland “Where service is still an art” they were gracious enough to give it to me to share with you. I think this drink would be perfect for the holiday season, and it sounds delicious too, so here we go… […]

This article appeared in October 2014 in Honestcooking.com Culinary Travel section In May of 1976 while America was gearing up for a celebration of the bicentennial year of its revolution, across the globe another revolution was just beginning. A blind wine tasting, taking place in Paris (now known as “The Judgment of Paris“) was soon to become the singular event that changed the fortunes and the perception of the entire wine industry in California by unseating the supremacy of French wines. So extraordinary was the outcome for America that two bottles from Napa Valley, California (Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon and Chateau Montelena Chardonnay) are enshrined at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and The Smithsonian Institution has recognized it as “One of the 101 things that made America.” True Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay aficionados the world over [...]

Auto Vino is the result of a car collector and oenophile's combined dream. If you have an inkling to open a winery in this area be prepared to spend 4 to 5 million an acre, if you can find it at all in Woodside, California. Luis (Buff) Giurlani has one and is living the dream. His Woodside Vineyards is one of the oldest, small vineyards in California. As Mr. Giurlani jokes, ” If we go by the land value here, this wine should be the most expensive in the world!” “But wait” you say, “didn’t I read above that AutoVino is a state-of-the-art luxury car and fine wine storage facility?” Yes. Mr. Giurlani, part of a family olive oil import business in San Francisco, has a penchant for classic, and luxury cars. Trouble is he soon needed a [...]

Rodney Strong Wines impart a distinct sense of place. credit: RSWines Wandering the aisles of the local wine store, I sometimes wonder about the names of people on the labels. Are they real people? Who are they? What was their vision? Can their vision be tasted in this bottle? I do know one who was very real. There was a Rodney Strong. Mr. Strong was the early visionary in Sonoma County who had the idea that this area and all of its micro-climates could bring forth world-class wine. Brothers Ridge Today Rodney Strong Vineyards encompass two major brands Rodney Strong and Davis Bynum. Mr. Strong’s namesake company planted grapes of many varietals including Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the terroir of Alexander Valley. In Chalk Hill he was the first to plant Chardonnay vines [...]

The third annual Ka’anapali Fresh Festival on Maui’s Western coast is coming up August 29-31, 2014 on the beach and different hotel venues in this famed resort area. Join the Ka'anapali Resort Association for three days and nights of locally-sourced food, a celebration of farms and fishermen, local products, local chefs and Hawaiian culture and music. And yes, wine and signature cocktails too. Stay in one of Ka'anapali's fine hotels and condos, you may book a room and purchase tickets online for the festival events. Why not celebrate right now with this Dragonberry Bomb? There will be gala dinners and events featuring Ka’anapali’s best chefs, Hawaiian musicians and hula, local farmers and fishermen and a cultural event with the arrival of the new double -hulled sailing canoe at the beach for the sunset opening of the three day event. Mixology class happens again this [...]

Lexington Kentucky is home to a unique and special place, Mecca for horse racing and training called Keeneland. Perceived today as a top brand in the Thoroughbred horse racing business with a storied history, traditions and a bright future, Keeneland was named a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Open the public to watch the horses work out on the track in the morning 6-10 AM, to public viewing on auction days, and to race fans for the races. Also open to the public is The Keeneland Library, established in 1939 contains one of the largest repositories of volumes on the Thoroughbred and includes articles, books, images and auction recordings and is also open to the public weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can research bloodlines, learn of keen lad’s history, see silver and crystal trophies, Man O’War’s shoes [...]

If you (heavens no!) have any leftover champagne - DO NOT THROW OUT THIS FABULOUS INGREDIENT however flat. Here a practical and delicious recipe makes good use of precious libation that has lost it's stars but not it's flavor!